1. Boom Bach

    Boom Bach New Member

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    Convicts

    Discussion in 'Character Development' started by Boom Bach, Mar 14, 2011.

    Alright, in my book, quite simply there's five convicts of 16 to 19. While robbing a smaller bank, one character Kitty kills a man kind of on accident.
    What would be some realistic side affects of that. Like mentally. Like she's guilty.
     
  2. Ion

    Ion New Member

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    It depends on what type of person Kitty is.

    Start with how you would feel. How would you react to having killed someone? Would you shut down? Would you go into denial? Would you be angry? Start with what you know, and extrapolate Kitty's answer based on the differences between you and her.

    If you don't know the answer yourself, you can't expect to answer it for someone you've made up.
     
  3. KillianRussell

    KillianRussell New Member

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    If Kitty is over 18 she is tried as an adult , under 18 as a juvenile. The over 18 convict will get tried for murder if though Kitty actually pulled the trigger . The law will never look at a gun death during a robber as an accident.
     
  4. flaze

    flaze New Member

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    Well perhaps at first she would feel nothing in the excitement, and then later it would weigh on her. Killing someone is a irrevocable action, which you can never undo, plus it's illegal, so how would that affect her?
     
  5. Trilby

    Trilby Contributor Contributor

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    Totally agree

    It depends on the character.

    She could feel really bad about it and get so depressed that she may even have a breakdown.

    or

    She may get a some sort of power kick out of the fact that she has killed someone. May crave to do it again - throw her weight around.

    The bottom line is it is your story - your character, it's up to you.

    imo You need more insight into your characters. You should know what type of person she is. (if you don't know your character how do you expect others to) You should get to know your character well enough to know how she would act in any given situation.
     
  6. Ellipse

    Ellipse Contributor Contributor

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    Also, who was the person Kitty killed? I'm assuming you mean she shot someone. Was it a security guard that was trying to draw his gun? Was it an innocent bystander? Was it an adult or child? Why kind of gun did she use?

    All those play into factors as well.
     
  7. Alan Lincoln

    Alan Lincoln Active Member

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    As said above it all depends on what type of person Kitty is. People often carry out bank robberies either for the thrill of it or because it's simply how they make a living, as hard as that is to understand. Most people don't just get up one morning and rob a bank, they have more than likely been involved in other criminal actions and ended up behind bars at some point. When they come out of prison no one want's to give an ex-con a break or a chance at a job so they do the only thing they are experienced in, in your case, bank robbery. So when a bank robber accidentally shoots a law abiding citizen, they can be affected greatly, suffer some kind of post traumatic stress etc. Most thieves will just want to get in hard, get the money and get out, fast, fast, fast!. No messing about. The longer they hang about the more risk they are taking. They may have weapons but most only have them to make a point in no uncertain terms; don't mess around with us, do as we say or your going to be six feet under. At worst they may rough up some of the bank employees or the citizens who give them some lip or don't follow instructions but most bank robbers don't want to actually use them on anyone within the bank (or wherever the robbery is taking place), only for if the police show up and they need to fight their way out.

    As soon as they spill blood they know they are pretty much in the s**t because (not that the robbery itself wouldn't have police attention but..) now they have serious heat on them with a murder conviction looming over their heads. As KillianRussell said, who's going to believe an armed thief shooting an ordinary joe-lunchbox waiting to pay a house bill was an accident?. So I can imagine, depending on what kind of character Kitty is, that there would be some serious guilt haunting her. Or she could be more complex and have some sociopathic issues (like some of my characters tend to be :s) with an abnormal lack of empathy. I would try researching a little, read into PTSD and try looking to see if there are any interviews floating about the net with criminals and see how they view the life they live so you can flesh out your character more and the issues of guilt after killing someone.
     
  8. SeverinR

    SeverinR New Member

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    One side affect would be even though she did not mean too, she is a murderer.
    She planned to commit a felony and a death resulted from the felony, that is considered the same as planned murder.(1st degree)

    Mental affects: if she is a caring person, just in with the wrong people, she will be tormented by the fact that she killed someone. It could lead to mental problems, it could cause her to take on the role of a hardened criminal to cover the feelings of killing someone.

    "It's a hell of a thing, killing a man. Take away all he's got and all he's ever gonna have."
    Unforgiven-1992
     
  9. Thanshin

    Thanshin Active Member

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    At that age, it depends too much on the person's education. A sixteen year old could be traumatized while another one might shrug it off.

    Don't fall in the civilized collective knowledge trap of thinking all people find it hard to kill and/or are seriously affected by it. Some people just don't care. Some people enjoy harming and killing and they're not necessarily crazy. Some don't kill just because it'd be inconvenient for their plans.

    And yes, sixteen year olds are people too.
     
  10. SeverinR

    SeverinR New Member

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    Children don't know better, haven't been taught to be concerned with someone elses life, so they can be most ruthless killers.
    But actually, any age person can kill without concern.

    I'm thinking if it was accidental, then the criminal will probably be upset about the killing. Even someone with no concern for life, could be upset at
    having the cops looking for a murderer rather then just a thief.
     
  11. Bran

    Bran New Member

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    The Darkest Recesses of Your Mind
    insanity.
    slowly breaking her mind down
    like brain poison
    i love writing about insanity. illusions, paranoia, over-active emotions, ect.
     

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